Lost in Vancouver Island: 3 days in a 1985 Westfalia Volkswagen

Renting a camper van has been on my bucket list for quite some time. Being an 80’s baby, there’s something nostalgic about an old Volkswagen camper van. I’ve always felt drawn to them. It certainly set the tone for what I needed: A nice, relaxing, ‘back to basics’ getaway in the great outdoors of Vancouver Island.

After a bit research, I came across Basecamp Adventure Rentals where I found the perfect 1985 Westfalia Volkswagen. The small, family-run company has four Westfalia Volkswagens that are rented out to people who are in search for the perfect outdoor adventure. I chose one they named ‘Cocoa Puff’ because she spoke to me.

Simple. Retro. Undeniably me. Time to get lost!

First, let’s introduce the star of the show, Cocoa Puff. Cocoa Puff is a 1985 Westfalia Volkswagen which makes her 35 years old and just a year younger than me. She’s been restored with a new engine and an automatic transition. She comes equipped with two stove tops, a sink, 14 gallons of fresh water, cooking and eating utensils as well as bedding and towels. She’s basically a mini home away from home. She’s fragile yet strong and in three days, I fell in love with her.

I’m coo coo for cocoa puff!

Ok, now that I’m done gushing over Cocoa, let’s recap the three day adventure!

Day One:
On day one, we ventured about three hours North on Vancouver Island to Elk Bay Recreation Site. Recreation sites are free camp sites that are first come, first served and there are many throughout the island. This one in particular is incredible because it sits right along the ocean with beautiful mountain views. We walked along the beach to take in the sites and shortly after, got the fire going to cook some steaks!

We cozied up to the fire at night as the sun set and fell asleep to the sound of waves crashing the shore. It was glorious. Watching the sun rise from the comfort of our camper van the next morning made me wonder how I had never done this before.

Day Two:
On day two, we headed further south towards Port Alberni. Before we reached our second destination, we went on an amazing hike at Elk Falls Provincial Park. It was a beautiful hike through the woods that lead to a large waterfall and suspension bridge. It was definitely one of the more memorable hikes on the trip. Later, we arrived at our second recreation site: Alden Creek Recreation Site. We picked a spot nestled in the trees stone’s throw away from water. This site was also pretty stunning and similar to the first site in the sense that it is next to the water and surrounded by mountains.

On the menu for dinner was Annie’s white cheddar Mac and Cheese with fire roasted hot dogs. Talk about comfort! The food fit perfectly with the 80’s camper van as the hotdogs & mac and cheese combo was something I enjoyed a lot as a kid. It did NOT disappoint.

Mac & cheese with fire roasted hot dogs. Yum!

Due to a long day of hiking and an unpleasant camper nearby, we had an early night. In the morning, we made some coffee and were soon on our way to our next location. We would have stayed another night here, but one of the campers was quite obnoxious and loud [hey, it happens].

Day Three:
Day three started off with a bit of a road block because we couldn’t find a campground. They were all full. Every time we were turned away from a full camp site, we became a little more discouraged as our hope was to arrive early to take advantage of the day. Shortly after leaving our fourth attempt at a recreation site, we noticed a small area on the side of a logging road, surrounded by forest. It had a makeshift fire pit made out of rocks and a cleared area to park in. It was the perfect hidden gem and we set up camp for the night.

After getting settled, we walked to a nearby creek where we took a dip. It was incredibly refreshing after a long drive on a hot day.

This camp site in particular was very special to me because it was completely secluded and a bit out of my comfort level as we were in the middle of bear and cougar territory. We were literally 30 minutes deep in the woods, alone with the nearest camp site about 10 minutes away. Did I mention there was no cell service? Yep, that’s the perfect equation for a horror movie. However, it was the complete opposite of horror. I felt a certain level of peace and relaxation out there that I hadn’t felt in a really long time. Completely disconnected.

All in all, renting a camper van completely surpassed any expectation I had. In the beginning it felt slightly out of my comfort zone but it turned out to be the adventure of a lifetime! I’m now obsessed with camper vans and think I might just get one someday.

Where would you travel to in a camper van? Comment below!